How old is Robert Plant, what’s his net worth, when was the Led Zepplin singer married to Maureen Wilson and what are his biggest albums?

Original god of rock shot to fame thanks to his spine-tingling vocals, before suffering a personal tragedy - and having a hugely successful solo career. Here's the story of his incredible career

By Olivia Waring, Showbiz Reporter

13th November 2017, 2:52 pm

Updated: 13th November 2017, 2:57 pm

ROBERT Plant is one of the founding fathers of rock 'n' roll, and he's been thrilling music fans with his haunting vocals for close to 50 years.

As the frontman of Led Zeppelin, the British singer commanded idolatry with his thrilling performances. Here's what we know about him...

Now approaching his seventies Robert Plant is the former lead singer and lyricist of rock band Led Zeppelin

Who is Robert Plant, how old is he and what is his background?

Robert Plant is a singer-songwriter and musician best-known for being the lead singer of Led Zeppelin.

After kicking off his career in 1965, his influence on rock saw him voted the greatest of all lead singers by Rolling Stone readers in 2011.

Blessed with an incredible vocal range and a mane of curly hair, Robert was born in West Bromwich on August 20, 1948, making him 69 years old.

His father was a civil engineer who worked in the Royal Air Force during World War II and his mother was from a Rominachal family, which inspired Robert's interest in Welsh culture and history.

As a youngster Robert idolised Elvis Presley and loved the blues, which led him to leave home at 16, ditch his plan to be a chartered accountant and join several bands in the Midlands.

In 1968 guitarist Jimmy Page came to see Robert sing with his band Obs-Tweedle - and was immediately sold on working with him when he sang Jefferson Airplane's Somebody To Love.

Together they formed a band, with John Bonham on drums and John Paul Jones on bass, which went from being named New Yardbirds to Led Zeppelin.

INSTAGRAM

A messianic Robert at the height of his fame during the 1970s

What are Led Zeppelin's biggest tracks and albums?

Led Zeppelin have released nine studio albums to date and their best-loved tracks include Kashmir, Stairway To Heaven, Dazed And Confused and Whole Lotta Love (which became the theme tune of Top Of The Pops).

Their first self-titled album was released in 1969 and their most recent one Coda came out in 1982.

Robert was given an award for best chest by Rock Scene magazine in the 1970s

Why did Led Zeppelin break up and what has Robert been doing since?

The rock group disbanded in 1980 following the death of drummer John Bonham, and Robert briefly considered becoming a teacher - but then opted to go solo.

Mentored and encouraged by Phil Collins, who played drums for him at many gigs, Robert released ten of his own solo albums and went on a number of hugely successful solo tours.

In October 2017 he has been promoting the release of his eleventh solo album Carry Fire, which has been received well by critics.

However, fans of Led Zep have been disappointed with the lack of band reunion in recent years, and in 2014 it was revealed Page and Plant were at war over whether to tour as a band again - with Page saying he was "fed up" with the singer "playing games" over it.

Previously they had reunited for Band Aid in 1985, at a 1990 awards ceremony and at a tribute concert in 2007, with John Bonham's son Jason playing drums on two occasions.

But in 2008 Plant, who'd reportedly turned down over £150m for a Led Zep tour that year, said they shouldn't continue touring "like a bunch of bored old men following the Rolling Stones around".

Robert with Patty Griffin who he was with for three and a half years

Who has Robert Plant been married to and does he have children?

Robert married first wife, Indian-born Maureen Wilson, in 1968 and they had three children together.

Tragically his middle child Karac died of a stomach infection aged five during Led Zeppelin's 1977 US tour - and later, Plant and John Paul Jones wrote the song All My Love in tribute to him.

Plant divorced Maureen in 1983 and entered a relationship with her sister Shirley, with whom he had another child in 1991.

In 2012 his romance with Us singer Patty Griffin from Band Of Joy became public but the romance only lasted until 2014.

Plant also has a passion for footie and became the Wolverhampton Wanderers Vice-President in 2009.